Breath deflector for welders&#39; helmets and the like



April 4, 1967 P. A. BEZZERIDES BREATH DEFLECTOR FOR WELDERS' HELMETS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 16, 1965 EEEIIIK 2 PAUL A. BEZZER/DES INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Apl'iI 4, 1967 P. A. BEZZERIDES 3,311,922

BREATH DEFLECTOR FOR WELDERS' HELMETS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 16, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 m 32 I mu PAUL A. BEZZE'R/DES INVENTO/P A 7'TORNEKS United States Patent 3,311,922 BREATH DEFLECTOR FOR WELDERS HELMETS AND THE LIKE Paul A. Bezzerides, R0. Box 211, Orosi, Calif. 93647 Filed Feb. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 433,046 Claims. (Cl. 28)

The present invention relates to a breath deflector for welders helmets and the like and more particularly to such a deflector which is effective substantially to eliminate the formation of condensation within such helmets during use.

Welders helmets, grinders face masks, visors, and the like employ transparent windows through which the users may safely observe their work. When the helmets or masks are used out of doors, particularly in the winter, the windows are subject to fogging by the accumulation of moisture condensing thereon from the users breath. Such fogging obscures the users vision, requires frequent removal of the helmets to clean thte windows and constitutes a safety hazard. Prior to the present invention, this problem had only been partially controlled by the use of certain anti-fogging chemicals which were sprayed upon the windows. However, such expedients have not been readily accepted inasmuch as they require frequent application and cause the formation of films upon the windows which attracts and accumulates dirt and obscures vision.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved breath deflector for welders helmets and the like.

Another object is to provide such an improved deflector which is effective to minimize or preclude fogging of the window of the helmet from the users breath.

Another object is to provide a deflector of the character described which is easily manipulated on the helmet between operating and non-operating positions.

Another object is to provide an improved breath deflector for welders helmets which is easily installed on existing helmets.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will subsequently become more clearly apparent upon reference to the following description and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a rear elevation of a welders helmet having a breath deflector embodying the principles of the present invention mounted thereon in an operating position in partially blocking relation to a window in the helmet.

FIG. 2 is a somewhat enlarged vertical section taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 through the window of the helmet and the deflector and showing, in dashed lines, a portion of the face of a person using the helmet.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section of the helmet and window with the deflector in operable position.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the deflector shown in a substantially flattened condition removed from the helmet.

FIG. 5 is a transverse section through the deflector taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the window portion of the helmet showing a second form of the deflector mounted thereon.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical section through the window portion of the helmet and the second form of deflector taken on line 77 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective of the second form of deflector removed from the helmet.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a breath deflector embodying the principles of the present invention is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10. The deflector is adapted to be mounted in the illustrated "ice embodiment on a conventional welders helmet 11. The helmet provides a substantially dome-shaped hollow shell having a front wall 12 and opposite continuous side walls 13 of a dielectric material such as Fiberglas or the like. A conventional adjustable head gear 14 is pivotally mounted within the helmet on opposite pivot posts 15 in the side walls 13. The front wall of the helmet has a substantially rectangular window opening 16 therethrough. A window frame 17 is mounted within the window opening and provides an inner flange 18 connected to the inner surface of the front wall 14 of the helmet by a plurality of screws 19. The flange includes opposite upper and lower side edges 20 and opposite inwardly rolled end edges 22. The frame 17 further provides a projected portion 24 extended through the window opening 16 a short distance beyond the outer surface of the front wall 14 and circumscribes a substantially rectangular opening 25.

A substantially rectangular window 30 formed of a sheet of clear glass or plastic material is disposed within the projected portion 24 of the frame 17. The window is constrained in such position by a substantially rectangular spring steel retainer 32 having opposite ends 33 individually received within the rolled end edges 22 of the inner flange 18. A substantially rectangular central opening 35 is formed in the retainer of substantially the same size as the opening 25 in the frame 17 and provides opposite upper and lower edges 36 and 37, respectively. A pair of spring fingers 38 are bent forwardly outwardly from the retainer individually adjacent to the upper and lower edges of the opening 35 therein to press against the window and to maintain the same within the projected portion 24 of the frame 17.

An external substantially rectangular window frame 40 is mounted on the outer surface of the front wall 12 of the helmet by the screws 19 of the frame 17 in circumscribing relation to the opening 16. The external frame includes upper opposite ear portions 42 which provide aligned bores 43 therein. Anexternal holder 45 provides a pair of upwardly extended ears 46 which are pivotally mounted on the external window frame 40 on pins 47 extended through the bores 43 of the ear portions 42 of the window frame. The holder provides a substantially rectangular recess 50 and a substantially rectangular opening 52 therethrough of a size substantially the same as the opening 25 in the inner flange 18 and the opening 35 in the retainer 32. A light filter 55 of dark glass or plastic material is disposed within the recess 50 and constrained in such position by a spring retainer 56. The structure described to this point is essentially conventional and typifies a suitable operational environment for the deflector of the present invention.

As best shown in FIG. 4, the deflector 10 of the present invention provides a body of flexible sheet material, such as plastic or the like, having an elongated integral mounting band portion 62 and an opposite integral masking portion 64. The body preferably includes a plurality of corrugations 65 extended transversely of the mounting band for imparting additional strength to the material. The mounting band 62 provides a substantially straight edge 66 and opposite inwardly tapered end edges 67. The masking portion 64 has an arcuate substantially simi-cir-cular edge 68 continuous with the end edges 67 of the mounting band. A longitudinally extended arcuate bead 70 is extended between the opposite end edges 67 to form a bending crease 72 between the mounting band portion and the masking portion of the body.

When the deflector 10 is mounted in operating position on the helmet 11, as in FIGS. 1 through 3, the masking portion 64 is raised in partially blocking relation to the window 16 in the helmet. In such position, the arcuate edge 68 of the masking portion buckles upwardly to form a nose receiving trough 75. This buckling efiect is caused by the effective reduction in the lineal distance along the arcuate edge 68 in its raised operating position from the substantially flat position of FIG. 4. As best shown in FIG. 2, the trough 75 permtis the masking portion 64 of the body intimately to overlie the nose of a user, as indicated by the dashed lines 77 and substantially to conform thereto. Accordingly, the users breath as indicated in dotted lines at 78, is deflected downwardly away from the window 16 in the helmet.

Second form A second form of breath deflector is shown in FIGS. 6 through 8. This form provides a body 80 of the same material as the first form which is adapted to be mounted in substantially the same position on the helmet 11. The body 80 provides an integral mounting band portion 82 which has a depending leg 83 extended therefrom intermediate opposite ends 84. The leg is impregnated with a plurality of magnetized metallic particles of a predetermined polarity. The body 80 also includes a masking portion 86 substantially identical to the masking portion 64 of the first form. However, the masking portion 86 is pre-formed to maintain the configuration of the masking portion 64 of the first form in its operating position so as permanently to provide a nose receiving trough 87. An elongated mounting strip 90 of a material identical to the body 80 is similarly impregnated with magnetized metallic particles of a polarity opposite to the polarity of the particles in the leg 83. The strip has an adhesive mounting side 92 which, prior to installation within the helmet, is covered by a removable backing paper 93. As best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the mounting strip 90 is disposed upon the inner surface of the front wall 12 of the helmet in centered relation beneath the window opening 16. Alternatively, the mounting strip 90 may be positioned on the outer surface of the front wall 12 of the helmet in the position shown by the dashed lines in FIG. 7. This installation does not require that the mounting strip include the adhesive side 92 as the strip and leg are held by their magnetic attraction for each other through the dielectric material of the front wall 12 of the helmet.

Operation The operation of the described embodiments of the present invention is believed to be clearly apparent and is briefly summarized at this point. In order to install the deflector 10 of the first form, the inner retainer 32 is sprung outwardly at its center from the inner flange 18 so that its only engagement with the flange is at its opposite ends which are constrained within the rolled opposite end edges 22. The mounting band portion 62 of the deflector is inserted between the flange 18 and the retainer 32 and the deflector sprung forwardly to its original position in tightly clamping relation against the deflector. In such position, the masking portion 64 of the deflector is disposed in a retracted position against the inner surface of the front wall 12 of the helmet in conforming relation thereto, as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2. The helmet may then be used, if desired, with the deflector retracted if the atmospheric conditions permit such operation without the users breath fogging the inner window 30.

The masking portion 64 of the deflector 10 may be easily manually raised to the operating position shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 by swinging the deflector upwardly in pivoting relation about the bending crease 72 adjacent to the bead 70. During movement to the raised operating position, the masking portion is automatically buckled as previously described to form the nose receiving trough 75. The inherent stiffness of the flexible material in combination with the strengthening corrugations 65 and the arcuate bending crease 72 enable the deflector to maintain such operating position until manually lowered to the retracted substantially flat position shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2. With the deflector disposed in the operating position of FIGS. 1 through 3, the helmet may then be disposed upon the users head with the trough 75 receiving the nose 77 of the user in conforming relation thereto. In such position, it is apparent that the users breath 78 is substantially isolated from the inner window 30 of the helmet and is directed downwardly and outwardly of the helmet. As a result, the window is maintained substantially free of any condensation from the users breath to enable continuous welding or other operations to be performed without the usual interruptions caused by fogging of the window.

The operation of the second form of the present invention is basically similar to that of the first form except for the manner of mounting and adjusting the body 80 of the deflector relative to the window opening 16 of the helmet 11. Prior to mounting the strip 90, the backing paper 93 is removed to expose the adhesive 92 thereof. The adhesive side is then applied to the inner surface of the front wall 12 of the helmet in permanent installation beneath the opening 16. When it is desired to use the deflector body 80, the leg 83 of the mounting band portion 82 is positioned upon the mounting strip 90. The magnetic attraction therebetween is sufiiciently strong to maintain the body 80 in position during normal use of the helmet. Furthermore, the magnetic attraction is not so great as to prevent relative sliding movement between the leg 83 and the mounting strip Accordingly, the masking portion 86 of the body may be raised or lowered with respect to the opening 16 to adjust the nose receiving trough 87 to the most comfortable position for various users. Alternatively, a mounting strip 90 without adhesive may be employed by positioning the strip on the outer surface of the front wall 12 of the helmet as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 7. In this position, the magnetic attraction of the leg and strip is effective through the dielectric material of the helmet to hold the deflector in the desired position within the helmet. This connection also permits relative movement of the masking portion relative to the window for adjusting purposes.

From the foregoing, it is readily apparent that the structure of the present invention has provided an improved deflector for a welders helmet or the like which substantially precludes the accumulation of condensation from moisture in the users breath on the window of the helmet. The deflector is easily installed without special tools and is readily adapted to virtually any existing type face protector. Furthermore, the deflector does not interfere with the users vision during normal use of the mask and may either be completely removed or manipulated to a retracted position when its use is not required by existing atmospheric conditions.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what are conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A breath deflector in combination with a welders helmet having a front wall providing a window and window constraining means comprising a unitary body of flexible sheet material having a mounting portion and a masking portion, said mounting portion including means engaging said constraining means holding the deflector is a retracted position in substantial conforming relation to said front wall of the helmet below the window and said masking portion being adapted to be manually raised to a position automatically forming a nose receiving trough with the masking portion depcndably retaining such configuration in partially blocking relation to the window until manually lowered to said retracted position.

2. A breath deflector in combination with a welders helmet having a front wall providing a window and means mounted on the front wall of the helmet constraining the window in the helmet, comprising a unitary body of flexible sheet material having a mounting portion and a masking portion, said body including an arcuate bending crease separating said mounting and masking portions, said mounting portion including means engaging said constraining means holding the deflector in the helmet and the body being flexible between a downwardly retracted position in substantial conforming relation to said front wall of the helmet below the window and an upwardly extended position with the curvature of the bending crease causing the masking portion automatically to bulge to form a nose receiving trough.

3. A breath deflector in combination with a welders helmet having a front wall providing a window and means mounted on the front wall of the helmet constraining the window within the helmet comprising a unitary body of flexible sheet material having a masking portion and a mounting portion with the latter including magnetized metallic particles impregnated therein of a predetermined polarity; and a strip of flexible sheet material identical to the material of the mounting portion of the body mounted on the front wall of the helmet and including magnetized metallic particles impregnated therein of an opposite polarity to the polarity of the mounting portion of the body holding the deflector on the front wall with the masking portion disposed in partially blocking relation to said window to thereby form a barrier between a wearers nose and the window, said strip permitting manual adjustment of the masking portion relative to the window.

4. In combination with a helmet having a downwardly disposed head receiving opening, an inwardly disposed concave surface, and a window through which a wearer of the helmet can make visual reference to an external work area, an optionally employed shield for deflecting the wearers breath from the window to minimize fogging thereof comprising a panel of sheet material having predetermined upper and lower end portions, and means securing the upper end portion of the panel to the helmet beneath the window with the lower end portion downwardly extended therefrom with the panel in facing engagement with the concave surface whereby the panel assumes an inwardly disposed transverse concavity tending to hold it in rigid downward extension and said panel having a transverse upwardly arched fold line between said upper and lower end portions along which the lower end portion can be upwardly folded and held in inwardly disposed transverse concavity tending to hold it in rigid upward extension as a barrier between the wearers nose and the window.

5. A breath deflector, in combination with a welders helmet having a front wall providing a window and means mounted on the front wall of the helmet constraining the window within the helmet; comprising a unitary body of flexible sheet material having a masking portion and a mounting portion; and proximity sensitive coacting means integral with the mounting portion of the deflector and the front wall of the helmet, respectively, having mating surfaces releasably engaged in facing relation, said proximity sensitive coacting means permitting said deflector to be held in adjusted positions relative to the window of said helmet, said surfaces conforming to each other in said adjusted positions and providing coactive attraction automatically retaining the surfaces in facing engagement and being releasable to free the surfaces for readjusted positioning of said deflector and helmet by application of forces applied to draw said surfaces apart, said proximity sensitive means holding the deflector on the front wall of the helmet in adjustable blocking relation to the window to thereby form a barrier between the window and a wearers nose.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,262,449 11/1941 Buegeleisen 2-9 2,665,686 l/l954 Wood et al 2-14 X 2,758,307 8/1956 Treiber 28 X 3,232,290 2/1966 Nicolai 28 X JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

J. R. BOLER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A BREATH DEFLECTOR IN COMBINATION WITH A WELDER''S HELMET HAVING A FRONT WALL PROVIDING A WINDOW AND WINDOW CONSTRAINING MEANS COMPRISING A UNITARY BODY OF FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL HAVING A MOUNTING PORTION AND A MASKING PORTION, SAID MOUNTING PORTION INCLUDING MEANS ENGAGING SAID CONSTRAINING MEANS HOLDING THE DEFLECTOR IS A RETRACTED POSITION IN SUBSTANTIAL CONFORMING RELATION TO SAID FRONT WALL OF THE HELMET BELOW THE WINDOW AND SAID MASKING PORTION BEING ADAPTED TO BE MANUALLY RAISED TO A POSITION AUTOMATICALLY FORMING A NOSE RECEIVING TROUGH WITH THE MASKING PORTION DEPENDABLY RETAINING SUCH CONFIGURATION IN PARTIALLY BLOCKING RELATION TO THE WINDOW UNTIL MANUALLY LOWERED TO SAID RETRACTED POSITION. 